A very high quality lens giving very clear photographs, the weight is the only criticism I found. By using a monopod it makes life a lot easier.

Easy lens choice for entering the big league

Best quality; works in dim lighting.

Heavy; large

Nothing wrong with the lens. More that it was unlikely to be a UK product and the issues arose with it being listed on Amazon at all. It was supposed to qualify for the Canon offer (the Amazon link claimed). It didn't.

This is a grey market lens meaning it does not qualify for Canon's manufacturer warranty. It arrived from zoom electronics without extra packaging or protection, just the original box. I am unsure if it is actually a Canon original product. I wouldn't recommend buying this through zoom electronics.

"One of the best tidbits of advice I have ever received was to buy this lens. And so I did from the Henry's booth at the Exposure Show (fall 2011). And I love it. And so I am passing the advice forward. This lens is the workhorse of my kit.

Bought this lens a few days ago to replace my 70-200 F4L. It's big, heavy and expensive. But it's also the best zoom lens Canon has ever produced. I'm completely happy. It's just as sharp as any prime I have.

I bought this lens on a friends advice & have been blown away by the versatility of it & the ease of use.I take it with me everywhere now & use it for a variety of things landscapes, portraits & anything else that I might see.

Superior build quality; Super-sharp images; Fast auto-focus

So sharp, you'll have paper cuts on your eyes. Image stabilisation is like hitting the brakes on a race car. Bokeh is creamy and cheesy and beautiful when combined with the telephoto compression. Buy one. Even if you have to mortgage your children.

This is a brilliant lens at a fantastic price offered by SMIFU. I ordered this lens in the peak Christmas season and was surprised to see it arrive so quick! Mark is a pleasure to deal with, and always quick to respond to queries.

Bought this product after much research.. was planning to get the earlier version of this but then when this one came I was hooked on to its clarity.. a must buy for any serious photographer.. thought a bit heavy, its performance is the best in the lot..